Culture

This Is What Booze Looks Like Under a Microscope

Turns out Great Uncle Phil was right all along: Concocting the perfect whiskey ginger nightcap really is an art form.

A website called BevShots captures photographs of alcohol taken through the lens of a microscope. The rainbow-like patterns it produces are then converted into metallic prints, bar accessories and even clothing, meaning you can (almost literally) say you're wearing what you drink.

The idea dates back to the early '90s. Michael Davis, a research scientist at Florida State University, was looking for new ways to fund his lab. He'd compiled hundreds of photographs of DNA, biochemicals and vitamins from working for more than 20 years as a researcher, and figured they had the potential for commercial art.

He pitched the photographs to a handful of retail companies, but not to much luck. One necktie manufacturer, however, suggested he switch his focus from DNA to cocktails. It looked just as cool, he figured, but it would bring with it the ability to "wear" a popular drink.

Davis returned a few weeks later with photographs of several popular adult beverages, and soon, the Molecular Expressions Cocktail Collection of ties was born. In the resulting years, he sold more than 5 million ties.

The sales slowed down eventually, however, and the photos were nearly forgotten. Then, in the early 2000s, Davis met entrepreneur Lester Hutt at Florida State. Hutt was interested in launching a startup in partnership with the science department, and when he came across Davis' photos and the necktie collection, he knew he'd found what he was looking for.

"I just remember thinking, 'These are really fun, modern art pictures. They're simple and just easy to look at,'" he says.

With Davis' permission, Hutt launched BevShots, and turned the somewhat dormant photos into paintings, knickknacks and fashion accessories. They've since added non-alcoholic photos of cranberry juice and cola to the collection, too.

BevShots creates the photographs by crystallizing the drinks. For the full effect to take place, Hutt says, the alcohol — or soda — needs to be frozen, then shot under a polarized light microscope. The colors appear after light shines through the crystal, creating a basic rainbow affect.

Here are a few of our favorite images from the collection:

American Amber Ale:

Image: BevShots

Bloody Mary:

Image: BevShots

Gin and Tonic:

Image: BevShots

Coffee Liqueur:

Image: BevShots

Margarita:

Image: BevShots

Sex on the Beach:

Image: BevShots

Tequila Sunrise:

Image: BevShots

Whiskey:

Image: BevShots

White Russian:

Image: BevShots

White Zinfandel:

Image: BevShots

Take a look at all the products, from straight-up gin to ginger ale, on BevShots.

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